The Weekender: August 10 – 12

TRAVEL to Italy without actually leaving the country, learn to play chess, or take some time off to attend a great gig (or two) this weekend. Diane Leow has more.

Image: La Dolce Italia

La Dolce ItaliaAugust 10-12 – Royal Exhibition Building

Love good food, wine, and want to know more about Italian culture? Head on down to La Dolce Italia (“The Sweet Italian”) this weekend, for a celebration of all things Italian at the Royal Exhibition Building. Be treated to fashion shows, sample authentic Italian produce, and even attend a wine masterclass – all under one roof. See, there’s more to Italy than just your love for pizza and pasta! Tickets start from $30 and are available online, or at the venue.

Download the app onto your iPhone or iPad, and go on your own walking tour of Melbourne! Photo: Office for Good Design

Sound of Buildings Vol. 2

Missed Open House Melbourne a fortnight ago? Don’t fret, you still can explore your city on foot with the help of the Sound of Buildings iPhone app. Go behind the scenes to the Royal Children’s Hospital, Flinders Street Station, Old Treasury Building, State Library of Victoria and other iconic buildings in this wondrous city we live in. Included in the app are recorded interviews from a range of people – a haematologist, architects, historians and more, explaining a little about the history, as well as their experiences in the various buildings. Best of all, the app is free! You can download Sound of Buldings from the iTunes store.

Learn the art of chess or pick up some strategies from the Prahran Market Chess Club. Photo: Ed Yourdon via Flickr

If you’re like me, and always found chess an intimidating game but always had an inclination to learn, why don’t you head down to the Prahran Market Chess Club? These group of chess enthusiasts gather every Saturday afternoon, from beginners to intermediates – and anyone can challenge the Master. If you don’t know anything about chess, they will be more than happy to teach you, for free. You might want to grab some groceries at the market before sitting down to learn a trick or two, or simply watch as people battle it out on the chessboard.

Pay whatever you like for a cup of frozen yoghurt at Yogurddiction's grand opening on Sunday! Photo: _e.t via Flickr

Yogurddiction’s Grand OpeningAugust 12, 11am to 5pm – Fitzroy Gardens

Fans of frozen yoghurt – perhaps more commonly known as froyo – will be glad to know a new froyo store (or truck) is opening this weekend! Adding to the growing number of food trucks in Melbourne, Yogurddiction serves up froyo, smoothies, parfaits and more, as it travels around Melbourne and its surrounding suburbs. The dessertery prides itself on using all-natural ingredients, and their froyo is 100% fat free. It offers three different yoghurt flavours daily, and has 25 toppings for you to choose from. Best of all, you can pay-what-you-want at their grand opening event this Sunday, from 11am to 5pm. To be updated on the truck’s location, check out their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter.

Frontman of the ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) Group of the Year The Whitlams, Tim Freedman brings his dulcet tones to the Bennetts Lane Jazz Club this weekend. He is also a master at the grand piano, often bringing emotion to his performances with both his voice and his pianist skills. After releasing his solo album titled ‘Australian Idle’ late last year, he toured Australia with his new band ‘The Idle’. Tickets for the gig are $35 (not inclusive of a $2.50 booking fee) and are available online.

The Jungle Giants come to NorthcoteAugust 9-10 – Northcote Social Club

Playful melodies and honest lyrics are the orders of the day with Brisbane-based band The Jungle Giants. This four-piece band have an amazing backstory – made up of two rival bands who decided to make music together way back in high school. After lead singer Sam dropped out of university, they began work on a five-track EP, which became popular on the airwaves. Their album, titled “She’s A Riot”, was just released at the end of July. The songs are reflections on life, relationships and friendships – the kind of inspirations that makes for the best music. Tickets cost $18, and are available online, or at the door if not sold out.

About

Meld Magazine was incorporated as an independent not-for-profit media outlet in September 2008 to reach out to international students in Melbourne, and provide students the opportunity to gain real work experience.

Many international students live in or around the city because of the proximity to their colleges and universities, and that was where we decided to focus our efforts first. Many of us live, work and study locally too. Our editorial team is made of both local and international students, and it has worked to our advantage in providing local content in every sense of the word.